Partisan tension seems to be growing worse in America. For many conservatives and libertarians, the disdain for establishment moderate Hillary Clinton and the associated left is significant. Similarly, the thorough hatred by the left of anything resembling the right is strong. Democrats and Republicans have typically opposed each other purely because of party label, but ideological divides are growing deeper.

A major contributor of this is the political parties who feed off of the partisan fights and bitter feuds. Keeping people divided keeps them in power. Keeping the system rigged for two and keeping additional third parties shut out makes them the only solutions.

But perhaps the biggest contributor is the mainstream media.

Once upon a time when honest journalism wasn’t a dying art, the media investigated government and politicians. Long ago when legitimate journalists were still numerous, the media remained impartial in a quest for truth. Now more than ever, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the mainstream media is a legion of propaganda artists.

Instead of giving Scarborough a chance to follow up before firing off accusations, Deb jumped to conclusions. But when given the chance to clarify by more credible sources and on social media, Scarborough noted he was there to meet with the incoming Republican President, hoping to score an interview.

He left prior to the New Years event.

Deb was repeatedly criticized on social media for the characterization, by Scarborough himself and others. It was quickly clear that Deb rushed to judgement, likely in an effort to make headlines and stir up controversy without concern for the truth or consequences of a lie.

Deb later backtracked on his error.

Archive this under fake news.

Fake News has been a big point of controversy, with many pointing their fingers at the right and conservative activists who spread theories about a Pizza Restaurant being the secret home base of a pedophile ring.

But although the Pizzagate controversy was a bizarre moment in the cycle, it still doesn’t touch the damage that the mainstream media could do through being intentionally deceitful.

Individuals like Sopan Deb are made for this field. Like the rest, he invents conclusions before he investigates them. Worse, he does this for political bias. Is this what a journalist is supposed to do?

Fake News is absolutely a problem, but the blame lies with the mainstream media.

Chris Dixon is a liberty activist and writer from Maine. In addition to being Managing Editor for the Liberty Conservative, he also writes the Bangor Daily News blog "Undercover Porcupine" and for sports website Cleatgeeks.

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